206 PROBABLE ACTION OF BIOPLASM OP NERVE. 



3. The proportion of bioplasm is always very great 

 in nerve centres, which are the principal seats of 

 development of the nerve current. 



4. That where, as in the sensitive papilla upon the 

 toe of the frog, the nerve organ is more acutely 

 sensitive (or more active in any other way) at one 

 part of the year than at others, its increased activity 

 is associated with a great increase in the amount of 

 the bioplasm. 



5. The principal change which takes place in a 

 texture which in health appears to be but slightly 

 sensitive, and becomes eminently so when inflamed, 

 as the peritoneum, is a very great increase of the 

 bioplasm which it contains, and this often proceeds 

 to such an extent that the ramifications of the nerves 

 appear as lines of oval masses of bioplasm. In the 

 case of a tissue which in the healthy state gives no 

 evidence of sensation, but which becomes acutely 

 painful when inflamed, the feeling of pain is associated 

 with, and probably is due to an increase of the bioplasm 

 of the nerves themselves as well as to the increase of 

 the bioplasm of other tissues which would necessarily 

 afiect the nerves by the mere pressui-e exerted upon 

 them by the augmented bulk of material. 



In every nervous action bioplasm is concerned, 

 and as the phenomena of bioplasm cannot be ade- 

 quately accounted for by physics and chemistry, it 

 follows that no nervous action can be attributed to 

 physical and chemical change only. 



254. Concerning the probable action of bioplasm 

 of nerve. — I have already shown that in all bioplasm 

 the operation of some force or power of a nature 

 different fi'om any form or mode of energy yet dis- 

 covered must be admitted.* This unknown agency 



* See " Protoplasm," " The Mystery of Life," " Life Tlieo- 

 ries and Keligious Thought," " How to work with the 

 Microscope," and papers published during the last twelve 

 years. 



